repressed memory

In Freud's theory of "repression"
the mind automatically banishes traumatic events from memory to prevent
overwhelming anxiety. Freud further theorized that repressed memories
cause "neurosis," which could be cured if the memories were made
conscious. While all this is taught in introductory psychology courses and
has been taken by novelists and screenwriters to be a truism, Freud's
repression theory has never been verified by rigorous scientific proof.
--John Hockmann

A repressed memory is the memory of a traumatic event unconsciously retained in the
mind, where it is said to adversely affect conscious thought, desire, and
action.

It is common to consciously repress unpleasant experiences. Many psychologists believe that
unconscious repression of traumatic experiences such as sexual abuse or rape is a
defense mechanism which backfires. The unpleasant experience is forgotten but not
forgiven. It lurks beneath consciousness and allegedly causes a myriad of psychological
and physical problems from bulimia to insomnia to suicide.

The theory of unconsciously repressing the memory of traumatic experiences is
controversial. There is little scientific evidence to support either the notion that
traumatic experiences are typically unconsciously repressed or that unconscious memories
of traumatic events are significant causal factors in physical or mental illness. Most
people do not forget traumatic experiences unless they are very young or are rendered unconscious at the
time of the experience.

The strength of the scientific evidence for repression depends on exactly how the
term is defined. When defined narrowly as intentional suppression of an experience, there
is little reason to doubt that it exists. But when we talk about a repression mechanism
that operates unconsciously and defensively to block out traumatic experiences, the
picture becomes considerably murkier.

Evidence concerning memory for real-life traumas in children and adults indicates
that these events--such as the Chowchilla kidnappings, the sniper killing at an elementary
school, or the collapse of skywalks at a Kansas City hotel--are generally well
remembered....complete amnesia for these terrifying episodes is virtually nonexistent (Schacter
1996, 256).

Psychologist Lenore Terr,
a defender of repressed memory therapy, argues
that repression occurs for repeated or multiple traumas, such as a
repeatedly abused child. Schacter notes that "hundreds of studies have shown that
repetition of information leads to improved memory, not loss of memory, for that
information." He also notes that people who have experienced repeated traumas in war,
even children, generally remember their experiences. A person who suffers a great trauma
often finds that she cannot get the event out of her mind or dreams. Terr's theory is that
the child becomes practiced at repression to banish the awful events from awareness, and
forgetting might aid in the child's survival. Her dissociative
theory, however, is based on speculation rather than scientific evidence.

Most psychologists accept as fact that it is quite common to consciously
repress unpleasant experiences, even sexual abuse, and to spontaneously remember such
events long afterward. Most of the controversy centers around recovered memories during repressed memory therapy (RMT). Critics of RMT maintain that many
therapists are not helping patients recover repressed memories, but are suggesting and
planting false memories of alien
abduction, sexual abuse, and satanic rituals.

The idea that
traumatized people, especially the victims of child sexual
abuse, deliberately repress horrific memories goes all the way
back to the 19th century and the theories of Sigmund Freud
himself.

But now some experts
are saying the evidence points the other way.

Professor Grant
Devilly, from Griffith University's Psychological Health
research unit, says the memory usually works in the opposite
way, with traumatized people reliving experiences they would
rather forget.

"It's the opposite.
They wish they couldn't think about it," he said.

In a briefing to the
US Supreme Court, Professor Richard McNally from Harvard
University described the theory of repressed memory as "the most
pernicious bit of folklore ever to infect psychology and
psychiatry".

The Diocese of
Lansing has paid a $225,000 settlement to a man who claimed he
was abused in 1954 or 1955 by the priest who founded a
children’s home. The priest died in 1983; no other abuse
allegations have been made against him.

The alleged victim,
an attorney, says that he repressed his memory of the abuse
until 18 months ago, at which point he suffered a breakdown.
According to his attorney, the alleged victim is no longer able
to practice law.

In the settlement,
the diocese denied the allegation. “Even if we get an allegation
that we can't substantiate, we continue to support those who
claim they have been abused,” said a diocesan spokesman. “If
that support includes assistance in getting counseling, we'll do
that.” The alleged victim’s attorney countered that the diocese
would not have settled if the allegation had not been credible.